Mike's Second Take on the Edge Rusher position ...
Who's stock has risen and why?
Kwity Paye, Michigan (6-3, 270 lbs.) & Jayson Oweh, Penn State (6-5, 252 lbs.) - I didn't include Michigan's Kwity Paye (6-21/2, 261 lbs.) or Penn State's Jayson Oweh (6-47/8, 257 lbs.) in my initial Top 5 of what continues to look like a pretty deep group, even if it lacks a can't-miss-superstar type. The issue initially was production. Oweh had zero sacks, zero interceptions and zero forced fumbles in seven games in 2020. Paye had two sacks in four games in 2020 and 11.5 in his four years at Michigan (the only season he had more than two was in 2019, when he had 6.5 in 12 games). Paye defended one pass and forced one fumble in four seasons for the Wolverines and never managed an interception.
But those two players are seemingly high on just about everyone else's lists (Dane Brugler of The Athletic ranks Paye No. 2 and Oweh No. 4 among edge rushers). It's apparently about physical skill sets much more than it is statistics with these two. Consider the opinion of NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks on Paye: "He has a lotta love in the streets. Even though the production isn't there, man, the traits are outstanding." If you can run and jump, if you have speed and burst and explosion, the rest will apparently take care of itself, or so the theory goes.
Added NFL Network analyst and former NFL general manager Charley Casserly regarding Paye: ""To me, he's the most explosive guy off the football in this draft as far as a pass rusher."
Brugler assessed Oweh's stat line for 2020, his lone season as a starter at Penn State, as "disappointing with zero sacks," but also pointed out "he was consistently disruptive and affected the backfield action."
Brugler's evaluation summarized Oweh as "a high-risk, high-reward pass rusher in the Jason Pierre-Paul mold."
Other Notes: Elerson Smith (6-61/4, 251 lbs.) of Northern Iowa "tested off the charts" at Northern Iowa's Pro Day (a 4.75 40-yard dash, a 411/2" vertical leap), in Jeremiah's estimation. That backed up what Smith put on display during Senior Bowl week and what he'd put on tape in 2019 (14 sacks, five forced fumbles, four passes defensed; Northern Iowa didn't play in the fall of 2020). Jeremiah though Smith inspired reminders of Maxx Crosby … Rashod Weaver (6-43/8, 259 lbs.) was another player who backed up the tape during testing at Pitt's Pro Day. Weaver reminded us how valued the three-cone drill is in confirming agility, and raised eyebrows with a 6.98 (7.00 or better is accepted as an attention-getting standard). "That was phenomenal," Jeremiah gushed. "A 6.98 time is outstanding." Brooks called Weaver a "bully." … NFL Network analyst Charles Davis had the following observation on Ohio State's Jonathan Cooper (6-25/8, 253 lbs.): "I'm not sure he got blocked in the Clemson game." … Oklahoma's Ronnie Perkins (6-21/2, 253 lbs.), likewise, impressed Jeremiah when he went against Oklahoma State's Tevin Jenkins, who is projected by many to be a first-round offensive tackle. "He parks him right on his backside with that power that he possesses," Jeremiah said of Perkins. "This dude can play."
Mike's First Take on the Edge Rusher position ...
#5 - Patrick Jones II, Pitt (6-4, 264 lbs.) - Jones explodes off the ball in pursuit of the quarterback. He had eight-and-a-half sacks and four forced fumbles in 2919 and nine sacks in 11 games in 2020. ESPN analyst Louis Riddick talked during Senior Bowl week about Jones' ability to get to the passer using a variety of pass-rushing tools/moves, although he had a "quiet" week of practices in Mobile, Ala., in Jeremiah's estimation. Jones' sack in the Senior Bowl game suggested he might be a gamer.
#4 - Azeez Oiulari, Georgia (6-3, 240 lbs.) - Ojulari forced four fumbles in addition to amassing nine-and-a-half sacks and 12.5 tackles for a loss in 10 games in 2020. He can bull his way through offensive tackles, shoot gaps and beat double-teams. An edge rush against Tennessee was equal parts impressive and innovative. Ojulari got low to dip under the offensive tackle on the way to the backfield to the degree that he went down to one knee and then quickly bounced back up, pounced on the quarterback, separated the football and fell on it.
#3 - Jaelen Phillips, Miami (6-5, 266 lbs.) - Phillips had eight sacks and 15.5 tackles for a loss in 10 games for the Hurricanes in 2020 after transferring from UCLA (he played a combined 10 games for the Bruins in 2017 and 2018). His highlights are similar to Gregory Rousseau's, and not just because both wore No. 15 at Miami. Phillips is especially relentless when chasing a play down from behind or the backside, whether he started in a two- or a three-point stance, and he knows how to finish when he gets there.
#2 - Carlos Basham Jr., Wake Forest (6-3, 274 lbs.) - Among Basham's perceived attributes is versatility. Riddick spoke during Senior Bowl week coverage of Basham's ability to play defensive end, defensive tackle or 3-4 outside linebacker. Jeremiah assessed Basham as "a strong dude on the edge." Basham has 15 sacks and 22.5 tackles for a loss in 19 games over his last two seasons at Wake Forest (five and four-and-a-half in six games in 20202). There was also this form Riddick: "This guy's just a stud. His intensity, the pace with which he plays, the violence with which he plays, he's just fun to watch."
#1 - Gregory Rousseau, Miami (6-7, 253 lbs.) - Rousseau opted out in 2020 after amassing 15.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for a loss in 2019. His wingspan is ridiculous, which allows him to get off blocks, disrupt and dominate. Even when a ball carrier gets past him, he isn't out of Rousseau's reach. And his potential beyond that monster 2019 season is such that Jeremiah is on record assessing Rousseau as in possession of "the tools to emerge as a perennial All-Pro player." That about covers it.
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